Page 125 of Sweetheart

"Yeah," I said, "but we're done now. So, I'll just go."

"Wait," Bennetsaid suddenly. "Maybe you can help."

"She probably has more important stuff to do than hang out with us," Betty said.

"Do you?" Her twin gave me the roundest, bluest, most beseeching look ever. "Have something more important to do than help a child in need?"

Betty gave me the same look. "Well?"

Glancing between the two of them, I said, "Oh, that is so unfair."

They didn't drop the puppy-dog eyes for a second.

"I guess I'm staying," I said finally.

The twins whooped, and I followed them into the house.

"Did you teach them that?" I asked Sam.

He shook his head. "Nope,it works on my parents, their teachers, me, and apparently youtoo. They were born knowing exactly how to get what they want."

"Sounds like someone else I know."

"I don't always get what I want," Sam said.

"I don't believe you," I said with a laugh. "Nameone time you haven't gotten what you wanted."

"There was at least once."

Hearing the odd note in his voice, I looked over and found him already staring back at me. His eyes were intent on my face. For some reason, that look warmed me from the inside out, and I found myself blushing.

After Sam and I were seated on the loveseat, Bennet's face turned serious, and he asked the last question I expected.

"Okay, I need to know.How do you kiss someone?"

Sam's brows rose. "Wasn't expecting that."

"Me neither," I mumbled.

"Why are you asking, B?"

Bennetran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Well, it's complicated."

"There's this girl in class," Betty cut in. "Her name's Anna, and she asked him to kiss her the other day.Bennet freaked."

"I did not," Bennet said.

"You raced out of the room like it was on fire."

"No, I walked quickly." He sniffed then turned back to his brother. "Anyway, I didn't even want to kiss her. She's annoying."

Sam looked to me then back at his siblings. "Then what's with the question?" he said.

Betty grinned. "Bennet likes her, even if he won't admit it."

"I really don't," her brother replied.

"Then why did you give her your pencil to take the test in English?"

---